• To learn more about the sport of volleyball from experienced coaches
• Improve your individual and team skills
• Continue to play at a competitive level after school season
• Showcase your abilities to college recruiters
• Prepare yourself to make a school team the next season
• Work with Experienced and Talented coaches
• Extensive practice
• Build Purposeful friendships
• Experience a wide range of competition
• You love volleyball and have a great time playing!

The following age groups shall be in effect for athletes for the 2020-21 season.

• 18 & Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1st, 2002 or were high school students in the 12th grade or below during the current academic year and are 19 years of age or younger (born on or after September 1, 2001).
• 16 & Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1st, 2004.
• 14 & Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1st, 2006.
• 13 & Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1st, 2007.
• 12 & Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1st, 2008.
• 11 & Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1st, 2009.
• 10 & Under Division: Players who were born on or after September 1st, 2010.

Can you give me more information about tryouts?

• Players are expected to be at all tryout dates and times; if a conflict arises for other commitments, please let the age group coaches know before the missed day.
• All players will be expected to preregister through our website before she can tryout. This will include the initial payment of $350 which represents the first payment.  All other payments will depend on the team each girl is placed on.  Payment can be made online, or by check.
• All players will be expected to register with AAU ($14) BEFORE she can tryout for insurance purposes.   It is important when you register that you enter the CLUB CODE unique to our club:   CLUB CODE:   WYBYCA
• All girls are expected to tryout in their own age group. The easiest way to determine your age group is asking, "How old will I be on Sept. 1, 2021?"  If you answer '13', then you will tryout as a 13--even if you are 12 right now as tryouts begin.
• Please come dressed and ready  for tryouts.  Each girl will receive one tryout shirt to be put on before tryouts begin with a number on it.  Shirts will be distributed at check-in.
• Please arrive early for tryouts. The check-in process will be hopefully quick, but we expect large numbers in some age groups.  We will have a staff and volunteers ready to assist as you arrive.
• All players will be expected to be fitted for uniforms on the first day of try-outs. Be prepared that you may be at the tryout site a little over the scheduled time to be properly fitted for uniforms.
• All players will be called by a club coach after the completion of tryouts on December 1st.  The goal will be to place all girls onto teams.  Cuts will not happen unless these are more girls than coaches to form teams; VERY RARELY have there ever been cuts.

What other expenses are there besides the club fees?

• Each player/parent is responsible first to make club payments on time.  The amount will vary depending on the team and level of play.
• Club fees will include tourney entry costs, insurance, coach's travel cost, coach's salary, uniform package, use of facilities, practice/tryout shirt, administrative fee, and equipment fee.
• Not included in club costs will be AAU membership ($14), USAV membership (if necessary), and player/family travel expenses. Players and family members may also want to purchase additional COA fan gear. Player/family travel expenses will vary greatly from the age and level of team.  Families can plan carefully to cut costs if needed.

When will practices begin and what is a typical week during club season?

• NEW this year--practices will begin right after tryouts; the week of December 2nd.  Practice schedules will be posted for December in late November. December practices will be 2-3 per week and end on December 20th. 
• After Christmas break, all teams will resume practices starting Saturday, January 4th (varies by the team).
• Once practices begin in January, practices will be 2-3 times per week depending on the age and level of team.
• All monthly practice schedules will be posted on  this website. 

How are practices designed and prepared for the players?

• New this year--COA is proud to announce that we will be modelling the formula that has made Mintonette VBC out of Columbus, OH a national power--'TIER  Practices'.  In other words, teams will be placed in groups that may shift from practice to practice. In these 'tiers' one veteran coach  is responsible for developing the practice plan for all the teams in the Tier (group) for that practice.  All coaches within that Tier will be expected to provide feedback to all girls in the gym.  This will create a community feel program and create cohesion for all of the players--trained in the same manner.
• Club teams will have practices, at times, with just their team to work on the line-up, team needs, and concentrate on rotation weaknesses and defensive systems.
• Positional sessions will be developed as well. These sessions may be built into part of the tier training as the season progresses.

During the tryout process, how are teams formed and girls evaluated?

• Athleticism--Players will go through athletic testing.
• By position--girls will be looked at by need at positions. The older the team and higher the skill level, the more important the skill at positions is necessary.
• By school--once in high school, all Indiana girls are limited to 3 from the same school on the same team. This is an IHSAA rule we must follow.  Illinois does not have this rule.
• Coordination--all players that have/are multi-sport athletes will have advantages during tryouts because their coordination has been further developed.
• Potential development--depending on the team and age, girls may be evaluated by the potential growth ('ceiling'). In other words, each girl may be evaluated on how good she may be by the end of club season--not necessarily what she can/cannot do during tryouts.
• Experience/skill--It is important to have skill going into tryouts; especially at the older ages into high school.  To make competitive teams, skill will be very important in determining team placement. For younger ages (8-11s),  we understand many will be beginners so we take that factor in to account to be fair.
• Effort--simply put, how hard does the girl play and does she play with purpose?

What are my total cost for club dues?  ...it depends on the team each player is placed on.  See below.

Interested in becoming a sponsor of Crossroads Of America Volleyball?